Entrepreneurship

The hops grown at Agricenter International will be tested for their quality.

Mid-South farming experiment pursues a truly a local beer

While Memphians love their craft beers, Memphis has not been able to produce a truly “local” beer. But Agricenter International is working to make it happen with their research in growing heat-tolerant barley and hops - two of the main ingredients of beer.

Latest in Entrepreneurship
Accelerator programs hosted by organizations such as EPICenter Memphis, Memphis Bioworks and Start Co., help entrepreneurs launch businesses and   connect them with pathways to capital. To date, EPICenter has raised more than $16 million in capital.
Memphis Money: Investment pipeline for startups has room for improvement

Facing a sore lack of later-stage capital in Memphis, startups that matriculate through local accelerator programs often have to look outside of the Mid-South to scale. 

Club patrons dance and vogue as part of a Kiki Ball at Club Memphis.
Orange Mound club serves the black LGBTQ community

Club Memphis owner Ashaki Blair said she has received a lot of support from family and friends who are part of the gay community. As business boomed, she got some opposition from people in the surrounding Orange Mound neighborhood.

Owner and chef Octavia Young behind the counter at Midtown Crossing Grill.
Midtown Crossing Grill is a community hub for Crosstown neighbors

Gourmet pizza complements regular community gatherings including comedy shows, neighborhood watch meetings and popup artisan markets. 

Creative Works Design Bootcamp student Jeannie Tomlinson-Saltmarsh works with Creative Works COO, Dan Price,​​​​ to finalize the logo for her neighborhood development project.
There’s opportunity in Memphis for creative professionals

Creative Works has launched new programs, courses and grade school curriculum to grow Memphis' workforce to reach 10,000 creative professionals by 2030. 

The Captain Harris house, built in 1898, is one of dozens of properties available for short-term rental in Cooper-Young, the city's most commonly listed neighborhood on the site.
Memphis sees 80% growth in Airbnb visitor stays over past year

Airbnb represents an alternative income source for property owners and an expansion of options for tourists, local officials say. The site saw the number of hosts in Memphis double over the past 12 months, at the same time the local hotel industry also saw above-average growth.  

Kristin fox-Trautman and Charlena Branch working with food at Kaleidocope Kitchen in Binghampton.
Binghampton Development Corporation provides growth opportunities for food entrepreneurs

A new commercial kitchen in Binghampton hopes to strengthen local entrepreneurs and launch successful food-based businesses. 

Lee Crumb serves up his beef tamales offered in either hot or mild, at Pop's Hot Tamales on Park Avenue.
From sweet to salty, Orange Mound eateries prove experienced hands make the best food

A day spent eating breakfast, lunch and dinner in Orange Mound yielded some surprising discoveries.

Deidra Tuggle, the Candy Lady of Orange Mound, and her sister at their grandfather's sundry store.
The Orange Mound Candy Lady fulfills a sweet business tradition

As a generational business woman, The Orange Mound Candy Lady provides a safe spot for kids looking for an afterschool snack and a smile.  

"I'm hopeful," said Dorothy Meeks about beginning work at Lucy J.'s Bakery.
Dorothy Day House meets homelessness and the need for a living wage in Memphis

A nonprofit bakery in Memphis will open this fall in Crosstown Concourse,  and all employees will be paid $15 an hour. Supporters see the project as a model that could improve the quality of life for many Memphians. 

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